Sunday, 3 August 2008

Wrap, and Rap, With Love

Wrap With Love is a not for profit organisation motivating the knitters of Australia to make beautiful, colourful wraps (blankets) to send to people wherever they may be cold. They have sent 157,000 Wraps to people in over 75 countries. From their Sydney warehouse , over forty non-denominational and non-political aid agencies distribute them to those in greatest need. They have no annual membership fee and rely on an Australia-wide network of caring volunteers to knit, transport and assemble Wraps.

Every year Sydney radio station ABC 702holds a "knit-in" at its studios in Ultimo. The whole huge atrium is taken up with people (99% women) knitting and crotcheting together the thousands of squares. And having lots of fun, laughing, chatting and enjoying each others' company, as you can see! This year it was held on Monday 1 August. I would have shown you it then, but it was theme day. My friend Maureen from the gym and I both knit, and are plannign to go along as knitters next year.

Part of the entertainment was a percussion duo, Aurora Percussion. They had the knitters percussing with their needles, and singing along with their Rap (For Love).

This is such a nice idea! And anyone who can knit has my admiration (if I were to knit anything, it would not keep the recipient very warm - can't help dropping links). And how fun to do this in music!

I think this is a good idea. Not only does it bring people together but in the end somebody else benefits from their efforts. If there were any men who knitted or crocheted they must have felt like kings in Heaven.

My mother-in-law crocheted newborn baby caps, booties and little blankets and those were picked up and distributed to local hospitals where they were given to newborns.

As a knitter I love seeing the joy in making these blankets. The prayer shawl ministry that I'm involved with creates joy and comfort and so much more and I'm sure these blankets will too. Beautiful work.Pensacola Daily Photo